Dr. Sarah Hameed directs the Blue Parks initiative at Marine Conservation Institute, a bold endeavor that sets science-based standards for ocean protection, celebrates conservation successes, and helps community leaders achieve effective protection for the ocean. She joined Marine Conservation Institute to help launch Blue Parks in 2016 and has since collaborated with marine scientists, protected area managers, and conservationists around the world to establish a global ocean refuge system that protects life in sea. Sarah earned a doctoral degree in Ecology with a certificate in Conservation Management at the University of California, Davis. She has published papers and presented at international conferences on marine protected area design and effectiveness as well as marine population connectivity, an important consideration for designing marine protected area networks. In addition to her work at Marine Conservation Institute, Sarah has served on the Advisory Council for Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and as President of the Board of Directors for Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation. In her free time, she can be found surfing the chilly waves of Northern California and building sandcastles with her family.